What is a Heat Exchanger?
Used in many different industries, a heat exchanger is a piece of equipment that moves heat between liquids and gases in separate containers, without them coming into contact. It uses cold water or air to remove heat from one space to another. Here at Vessco Engineering, we manufacture and supply custom-built heat exchangers for our clients in sectors such as oil and gas, power generation, and water treatment. They are an essential component used in a range of processes.
In this post, we will explain how heat exchangers work, and the role they play in the industries we specialise in.
How do Heat Exchangers Work?
The way a heat exchanger works will vary depending on its type, and functionality. However, what all heat exchangers have in common is that they use a mixture of convection and conduction to move energy – usually heat – from one place to another. They do this by conducting heat into one separately contained section of water, fluid, gas or air. This can also be done by a cooling process, which removes heat from one medium and places it into another.
Heat exchangers complete this process safely, in a way that reduces the amount of gas leaking into the atmosphere.
Oil and Gas
Vessco fabricates some of the largest heat exchangers, to be used in the oil and gas industry. In this industry, heat exchangers are a critical part of making sure productivity is maximised. In oil and gas, the oil and gas production processes where heat exchangers are used include:
- Hot oil/heat transfer systems
- Fuel gas conditioning skids
- Cold ammonia flow control
- Lube oil systems
- SCR units
Power Generation
In power plants, heat exchangers are used to gather heat from heated waste gases to generate power. They are used for condensing, condensate sub cooling, heat extraction, and similar applications. For wet storage in power plants, heat exchangers are also used for the cooling processes that maintain optimal conditions for wet storage.
Water Treatment
In processes including waste water treatment and sanitisation, heat exchangers are used to heat the water, among a wide range of other applications. These can include:
- Taking heat from sewage, whether raw or treated
- Preheating waste materials before anaerobic digestion
- Evaporation of moisture from waste
- Waste stream pasteurisation for environmental compliance
In water treatment, spiral heat exchangers are commonly found. They are made from a channel that is shaped into a coil, resulting in a compact and simple design. Plate heat exchangers are also common and provide thermal efficiency. Shell and tube heat exchangers are most effective and suitable for processes involving toxic materials.
Vessco Engineering supports local industries in and around South Wales. Our skilled team fabricates and supplies a wide range of heat exchangers for the industries listed above. To find out more about our heat exchanger supply and manufacturing services, click here.